In a blow to organized labor, Indiana state House passes right work law

Wednesday, 25 January 2012 22:10

Indiana's Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed right-to-work legislation on Wednesday, sending on to Governor Mitch Daniels a controversial measure that could hit organized labor in the pocketbook.

Once signed into law by Daniels, who gave the Republican response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union speech on Tuesday, the law would make Indiana the first right-to-work state in the country's traditional manufacturing belt.

The measure was passed by the state Senate on Monday and Daniels has made it a top priority of his agenda, saying it would help Indiana attract businesses and jobs to the state.

The House approved the law by a 54-to-44 margin, even though five Republicans joined Democratic lawmakers to oppose it.

The state Senate voted 28 to 22 in favor of the measure, with nine Republicans joining all 13 Democrats in voting against it.